Getting started

Well, I did get started on staging my mutiny against all our stuff.  Sort of.  I typed up my initial plans and what exactly we have too much of.  Everything, really...except money.  But we have enough and that's okay.

So, I have decided to start with possessions in the month of March.  I hope to find some time in between school and baseball games to get in my creepy, cold basement and start purging things in my collection of fabric, art supplies, and everyday items that I tend to hoard because I think they will make a cool art project.  (I've got to stop that!)

Now, I'm not gonna lie.  I have a motive for purging all of our stuff that has nothing to do with the fact we are overrun by it.  I am taking a group of 4 students to Spain in June and I don't want to put unnecessary financial strain on my family so I need to make a few extra bucks (well, a few hundred bucks) so that my family doesn't suffer financially while I'm gone for 11 days.  The emotional stress will have them suffering enough, along with the fact that they will actually have to do things for themselves.  Hey, I only take these trips every 2-3 years so I'm going to enjoy every second of it and have my kids learn some good life lessons about how to survive without mom!

I also want to have a swap party where you invite your friends/family to bring a few items they don't want and you get together and swap it.  I've actually tried to plan one of these things before (I even found my notes in a folder I was cleaning out) but I never followed through with it.  I think I will plan that during Spring Break since the kids will be out of school, I'll be out of school, and we could stay up all night without having any major responsibilities, like work, the next day!

I hope that by ridding ourselves of all these useless things, that we can spend more time as a family, purchase what we really need instead of what we want, and bless others in the process.  I do plan to just give some of our things away to those who need it more than we do.  And, of course, if it comes down to make a buck or bless someone who can't pay, the latter will happen every time.  We have been blessed when we were at our lowest and I truly believe in spreading the love and blessings to everyone.

Month One - Possessions will begin on March 1st and will last the entire month.  I hope to get my children involved and explain to them why we need to do this.  I'm not sure what the second month will be but I will plan that as month one progresses.  I'm excited about this adventure.

Stay Positive!
Jen